Wringer release mechanism



June 18, 19400 N. L. ETTEN WRINGER RELEASE MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 15, 1935 INVENTEIF; WM 5! m.

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W ATTEIHNEY June 18, 1 940. ETTEN I 2,205,137

' WR-INGER RELEASE MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 15, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lE} El INK/ENTER 'ATTIIZENEIYEE Patente cl- June 18, 1940 um rao STATES 2.20am wm'NGr-m Ramses nmcnsmsu Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, Iowa, assignor to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa Application February 15,1935, Serial No. 6,622 Renewed September 29, 1937 14 Claims.

This invention has reference to wringer release mechanisms and has for one of its objects the provision of a roll wringer mechanism having a top frame pivotally supported at one end and mechanismat the opposite end for releasably locking the top frame upon the lower frame.

Another object is to provide a release mechanism comprising a. top frame pivotally supported at one end, mechanism at the opposite end for holding the same against pivotal movement and manual means capable of rendering the holding mechanism incapable of holding action.

A further object is to provide a roll wringer mechanism as aforesaid, including upper and lower rolls, one of which has driving connection with a power source, means for applying pressure to the rolls including a top frame supported at one end to move pivotally and mechanism at the opposite end thereof for holding the 'top frame in position to'apply pressure to the-rolls, means for releasing the top frame to permit pivotal movement of the same whereby it is incapable of applying pressure and mechanism cooperative with the top frame whereby said driving connection is broken by means of said pivotal movement.

An additional object is to provide a roll wringer mechanism including upper and lower rolls, a top frame pivotally supported at one end and mechanism at the opposite end for controlling pivotal movement thereof, the upper roll being pivotally supported at one end and having driving connection with a power source .at the opposite end and mechanism connecting the upper roll and top frame whereby when the top frame is moved upon its pivot the upper roll is moved upon its pivot, said driving connection being such as to be established or broken in accordance with pivotal movement 'of the roll.

Other objects'will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a wringer mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. 1 with certain portions removed or shown in section to permit clear view of interior parts;

Fig. 3 is a view similar'to Fig. 2 showing parts 'of the mechanism in operated positionas will be explained;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental side elevational view showing details of mechanism to be;

described;

Fig. -5 is an end elevational sectional fragmental view showing details of mechanism to be referred to;

. Fig. 6 is a fragmental view showing details of mechanism to be explained;

l igm'l is a fragmental view similar to Fig. 6, taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 5, showing dotted outline of certain parts in operated position; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmental plan view taken from line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate my wringer as comprising a lower frame it which includes a lower transverse portion i i and upright end portions l2 and i3. Carried in the lower frame are upper and lower wringer rolls It and [5.

Lower roll IE5 is journalled in'bearing blocks It and H which are made slidable in uprights l2 and i3 and are urged upwardly by a spring it which is adjustably supported at 19 in frame portion H by means of a clamp mechanism including a screw 20 threadedly mounted in a bracket 2| secured to the frame.

Upper roll it is journalled inbearing structures 22 and 23 which are supported in a s'pecial manner as will be explained shortly.

-The wringer frame is supported upon a housing structure 26, it being connected therewith by means of side plate portions 25. The housing is to be supported upona washing machine structure not shown.

Housing 24 houses and supports a conventional gear and clutch drive mechanism which includes a vertical shaft 25' having connection with a power source not shown, a clutch member 26 slidably keyed to the shaft and plural bevel gears 21 and 28 rotatably mounted on the shaft. The latter gears are provided with inwardly directed teeth 29 and clutch 26 is provided at each end with teeth 30 adapted to engage in teeth 29 when the clutch is slid into elevated or lowered position.

A stud 3| engages in an annular groove in the clutch and is eccentrically mounted in a body 32 carried by a stub shaft 33 journalled in housing 24 as shown. A handle member 34 is affixed to the shaft, and by means of this the shaft may be rotated to cause sliding movement of clutchv 26 into neutral position or into positions of engagement with one of gears 21 or 28 to impart rotary movement to the gears. The gears mentioned are meshed with a gear 35 which has a shaft 36 journalled in structure 24. At its opposite end shaft 36 carries a spur gear 31 which is normally meshed with a spur gear 33 attached to a shaft 39 of the upper wringer roll I4.

It will be apparent that through the mechanism described, the upper roll may be driven to rotate in either direction by means of manipulation of handle 34.

Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate a transverse top frame member 40 which is pivotally supported at its left hand end upon a pin 4| secured in plate structure 25. By reason of this mounting the top frame is free to move in a pivotal manner as shown in Fig. 3.

Reference has already been made to hearing structures 22 and 23 which support the upper roll M. v

It will be noted that these bearings are connected by means of a longitudinally disposed bar 42 which has connection at its center with the top frame 45 through an extensible link mechanism 48. Bar 42 has a channel cross section, disposed with its web side lying'at the bottom.

Bearing structure 22 carries a roller 44 rotatably mounted by means of a screw 65. The roller is adapted to engage the under surface of a reinforcing plate 40 secured upon top frame 4b as will appear shortly.

At the right hand end of the wringer frame there is disposed a latching mechanism shown best in Figs. 4 to 8. The mechanism comprises a double hook member 46 secured in the top frame in position to be engaged by a cross bar portion of a latching member M, the latter having plural depending arm portions 48 pivotally supported upon a bar 49 secured in the walls of upright l3.

Arms 48 have outwardly directed ledge portions 50 and the transverse portion of the latching member carries a member i which extends downwardly therefrom a short distance and is bent back to form a portion designated 5!. Portion 5i has an opening at its outer end which loosely surrounds a stud 52 supported upon a cross member 52 which is secured between the upstanding flanges of bar 42. The web portion of bar 30 is cut away as shown to clear portion 5i when the same is in 'operated position.

A spring 53 is confined upon stud 52 and reacts between cross member 52' and portion 5i to urge latch member 41 to assume the latching position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, the extent of this movement being limited by a washer and pin 54.

The foregoing will make clear that the top frame 40, carrying hooks 46, may be moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 whereby to be engaged and locked in lowered position by means of latching member 41. It will also be apparent that the top frame may be released by means of movement of latching member 41 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 wherein the latching member is shown withdrawn from engagement with hook 46.

To accomplish the releasing movement noted I provide a lever member 55 having dual side portions 56 pivotally attached at 51 to the side walls of top frame". The side portions 56 are connected by a transverse portion 58 and extend backwardly a substantial distance to terminate in oppositely outwardly directed lip portions 59.

Lip portions 59 are positioned to be engaged by inwardly extending finger portions 60 of lever members Bl which are movably mounted in the walls of top frame 40 and are confined by means of pins 82. Similar levers are disposed at the opposite end of the top frame and the levers are connected by longitudinal hand rails 63 as best shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 discloses that the transverse portion 58 of lever 55 normally rests upon'ledge portions 50 of latch member ll and it will be apparent that manual movement of either of levers 6i to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 will result in elevation of the rearward ends of lever 55 and depression of transverse portion 58 thereof to engage ledges so to force latch member 4'! toward the dotted line position of Fig. 4. already noted, to release the top frame.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 and 3 wherein it is shown that, as already explained, spring I8 is normally tensioned to force the lower roll i5 upwardly to abut the upper roll when the top frame is locked in lowered position as in Fig. 2.

It is to be noted that bearing structure 23 is pivotally supported in upright i3 by means of its cage members 23' being mounted upon the bar 49. It will also be noted that with the top frame in lowered position, the roller 44 is abutted by reinforcement plate 40' on the top wall of the top frame whereby bearing structure 22 is supported to abut the pressure transmitted from spring l8.

When the parts are in the position described gear 33 is obviously in mesh with driving gear 371' and thus all elements are in position for normal operation.

In case it is desired to quickly separate the rolls, remove the pressure therebetween and stop rotation thereof, it is but necessary to strike either of hand rails 63, whereupon the mechanism described will function to release the top frame.

The top frame being released, bearing structure 22 is no longer supported thereby and spring i8 becomes effective to force the lower roll upwardly whereby, during initial movement of the lower roll, the left hand end of roll i4 is forced upwardly to disengage the driving gears as shown in Fig. 3 and break the driving connection of the upper roll.

Continued pressure from spring i8 is exerted at the right hand end .of the rolls and is transmitted to upper roll ll approximately at the point of contact therebetween, as at A. The upper roll, being pivotally movable upon the bearing support 49, continues pivotal movement until the power of spring i8 is spent, at which time the parts will rest in approximately the position shown in Fig. 3.

In caseit is desired to bring about further separation of the rolls, the top frame may be manually elevated whereby, through the connection afforded by the link mechanism 43 with bar 42, the upper roll may be elevated to any desired Position.

To restore the mechanism to working position the right hand end of top frame 40 is moved downwardly to thus force roller 44, bearing structure 22 and roll I toward its normal lowered position. During this operation roller i4 becomes a lever which, through the contact A, is capable of exerting multiplied pressure opposite to sprin ii, at the right hand end Continued downward movement of the top frame eventually places the upper roll in working position and at the same time places gear 38 in mesh with gear 31. Final lowering movement places hook 46 in locked position, thus restoring the mechanism to working condition.

The foregoing has described an embodiment of my invention. Numerous modifications of structure are obviously possible without alteration of the principle involved.

I do not wish to be limited in structure or func- I claims.

end of the frame and said upper roll attached to.

said lower frame for pivotal movement at the opposite end of the lower frame, the lower roll having contact with the'upper roll whereby upward movement of the lower roll as induced by said spring brings'about 'upwardpivotal movement of the upper ro1l,.means connecting the other end of the upper roll with said top frame whereby said upward pivotal movement of the upper roll causes upward pivotal movement of the top frame, the connection and arrangement being such that forced downward pivotal move ment of the upper frame brings about downward pivotal movement of the upper roll and conse-;

quent downward movement of the lower roll in opposition to said spring, and means for releasably holding said top frame in lowered position to maintain the upper roll in pressure relation with the lower roll.

2. A wringer mechanism as set forth in claim 1 ,wherein said means for releasably holding the top frame includes a manuallyaccessible release bar disposed on the side of the top frame whereby whenthe top frame is held in lowered pressure maintaining position the release bar may be.

manipulated to'release the top frame to render said spring capable of forcing upward pivotal movement of the upper roll and top frame.

3. In a wringer mechanism the combination of a lower frame, a top frame, upper and lower wringer rolls, a support structure for the upper roll, said support structure being pivotally supported at one end upon the lower frame, saidtoD frame having one of its ends pivotally supported at the opposite end of the lower frame and arranged to overlie the other end of said upper] roll support structure, spring means tending to move the lower roll in said lower frame toward the upper roll by means of which movement the upperroll is moved upon its pivotal support and its free end is forced against said top frame to cause pivotal movement of the latter, said top frame being manually operable in the opposite direction to reverse themovements and press the upper roll upon the lower roll in opposition to said spring, latch mechanism operative to hold the top frame in premure applying position and a release bar on the top frameoperable to release the latch mechanism.

4. A wringermechanism having in combination, a lower frame, a lower roll supportedin bearings pressed upwards by a spring, an upper frame hinged to the lower frame, an upper roll carried in bearings pivotally mounted in a lever mechanism pivotally connected to the lower frame, said lever mechanism actuated by pivotal movement of the upper frame to force the upper roll into pressure position or to release the upper roll to open position.

5. A wringer mechanism having in combination, a reversible drive gearing mounted in a housing, a lower frame attached to said housing,

in combina a lower roll mounted in bearings supported by an adjustable spring in the lower frame, an upper roll with a drive gear on the housing end of the roll shaft positioned for driving connection with the drive gearing, a bearing for the gear end of the upper roll shaft pivotally connected to a lever mechanism actuated by pivotal movement of the upper frame, an outer upper roll bearing pivotally connected to the lower frame and said lever mechanism, and lock and release mechanism coacting with the pivotal movement of the upper frame and said lever mechanism to lock the upper frame on the lower frame with the rolls in spring pressure ;contact with each other and with drive gearing engaged and to release the upper frame for pivotal movement on the lower frame whereby the rolls are released from pressure and the drive gearing disengaged.-

. 6. A wringer mechanism having in combination, a reversible drive gear head, a lower frame attached to said head, a lower roll supported in bearings pressed upwards by a springsupported in the lower frame, an upper frame hinged to the lower frame, an upper roll carried in bearings pivotally mounted in a lever mechanism pivotally connected to the lower frame and-actuated by pivotal movement of the upper frame, a. drive gear mounted on the inner end of the upper roll shaft positioned to engage the drive gearing when the upper roll is in pressure contact with the lowerroll and to disengage ,when the rolls are separated by pivotal movement of the upper frame, said pivotal movement of the upper frame co-acting with said lever mechanism to force the upper roll into pressure contact with the lower roll or to release the upper roll from pressure, and a lock and release mechanism to lock the upper roll in closed pressure position or to release the upper roll to open position.

7. In a wringer pressure release and reset mechanism, an upper frame member, a bottom frame member, said frame members being relatively movable from and toward one another, upper and lower wringer rolls movable in said frames relatively toward and from one another, bearing'mearis for rotatably supporting said rolls,

spring means reacting between one of .said rolls and one of said frame members and tending to separate said frame members, said spring means normally urging said rolls relatively togetherin pressure relationship, means pivotally connecting one end of one of said rolls to one of said frame members for movements therewith,

means pivotally connecting theother end of said one of said rolls to the other of said frame members for movements with respect thereto, and means .for releasably securing said frame members and rolls in pressure position. p

8. In a wringer pressure release and reset mechanism, upper and lower frame members relatively movable toward and from one another, upper and lower wringer rolls mounted between said frame members, one of said rolls being movable toward and from the other roll, a bearing member for each end of each roll, meanspivotally connecting one bearing member of said one roll with one of said frame members, means' pivotally connecting the other bearing member of said one roll with the other frame member, spring means normally exerting pressure between said frame members and rolls and tending to move said frame members apart and said rolls together in pressure relationship, and releasable means normally securing said frame members together.

9. A wringer mechanism having in combination, a lower frame member, a top frame member, upper and lower wringer rolls supported by said frame means, spring means reacting against one frame member for applying pressure to one of said rolls to force the same against the other roll and toward the other frame member and said frame members relatively apart, said frame members being pivotally connected together by one corresponding end of each for relative movement of one frame member with respect to the other, one of said rolls being pivotally connected at one end by a pivot extending transverse to its axis of rotation to one of said frame members, means pivotally connecting the other end of said one roll to the other of said frame members, and means for releasably connecting the other corresponding end of each frame member together.

10. A wringer mechanism having in combination, a lower frame member, a top frame member, upper and lower wringer rolls supported by said frame means, spring means reacting against one frame member for applying pressure to one of said rolls to force the same against the other roll and toward the other frame member and said frame members relatively apart, said frame members being pivotally connected together by one corresponding end of each for relative movement of one frame member with respect to the other, one of said rolls being pivotally connected at one end by a pivot extending transverse to its axis of rotation to one of said frame members, means securing the other end to said frame including a link pivotally connecting means connected to the other end of said one roll and to the other of said frame members intermediate the ends of the latter, and means for releasably connecting the other corresponding ends of each frame member together.

11. A wringer mechanism having in combination, a lower frame, a lower roll supported in bearings in said lower frame, an upper frame hinged to the lower frame, an upper roll carried in bearings pivotally mounted in a lever mechanism in turn pivotally connected to the lower frame and to the upper frame, spring means reacting between said frame members and normally tending to urge said rolls into pressure engagement with one another, said lever 'mechanism being actuated by pivotal movement of the upper frame about said hinge and relatively to the lower frame to force the rolls into pressure contact or to release the pressure from between said rolls, and a lock and release mechanism for locking the upper roll in closed pressure position or for releasing the upper roll from pressure position.

12. In a power driven wringer, a lower frame, a lower roll mounted in bearings supported by a pressure spring in said lower frame, an upper frame pivotally mounted on one end of the lower frame, an upper roll mounted in bearings supported by a frame and lever mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent the pivot 'end of the 'upper frame, a reversing gear head mechanism on which the lower frame is mounted carrying a roll drive gear, a driven gear mounted on the upper roll shaft coacting with said driven gear and means to lock and release the upper frame to the lower frame whereby the rolls may be locked in rotating pressure position in the frames or released in open non-rotating position.

13. In a wringer pressure release, roll stop and pressure reset mechanism a lower frame, a pressure spring adjustably mounted in the lower frame, a lower roll mounted in bearings supported on said pressure spring, an upper frame pivotally mounted on the inner end of the lower frame, an upper roll mounted in a frame pivotally connected to the upper frame on the inner end adjacent the said frame pivot connection, a roll drive gear driven by a reversing gear head on the inner end of the lower frame, a driven gear on the inner end of the upper roll shaft coactlng with said drive gear, and lock and release mechanism whereby the upper roll may be locked in pressure rotating relationship on the lower roll by manually forcing upper frame downward about its inner pivot into locked position or re leased in open non-rotating position wherein the pressure spring forces the lower roll to pivot the upper roll angularly about its outer end and the upper frame in the opposite angle about its frame pivot connection.

14. In a wringer pressure release, roll stop, and pressure reset mechanism a lower frame, a gear drive mechanism on the inner end of the lower frame, a lower roll supported on a pressure spring urging it upwardly in the lower frame, an upper frame pivotally mounted on the inner end of the lower frame, an upper roll mounted in a frame and lever mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent the inner end of the upper frame, a driven gear on the inner end of the upper roll coacting with the gear drive mechanism, and lock and release mechanism operable to lock the upper roll in pressure rotating position on the lower roll by manual downward pivotal manipulation of the upper frame and to release the rolls into open angular non-rotating position supported on the outer ends of the rolls.

NICHOLAS L. E'I'IEN. 

